{{quote|Eärnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom. He was a man of strong body and hot mood; but he would take no wife, for his only pleasure was in fighting, or in the exercise of arms.|''[[Appendix B]]'', Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion.}}

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| house=[[House of Anárion]]

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'''Eärnur''' ([[Third Age]] 1928 – 2050) was the thirty-third and last [[King of Gondor]]. He took the throne upon the death of his father [[Eärnil II]] in [[Third Age 2043|T.A. 2043]], and after his disappearance, the [[Stewards of Gondor]] ruled in his name for many generations.

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{{quote|Eärnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom. He was a man of strong body and hot mood; but he would take no wife, for his only pleasure was in fighting, or in the exercise of arms.|''[[Appendix A]]'', Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion.}}

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'''Eärnur''' ([[Quenya|Q]]: contraction of [[Eärendur (disambiguation)|Eärendur]], pron. {{IPA|[eˈarnur]}}; [[Third Age]] {{TA|1928|n}} – {{TA|2050|n}}) was the thirty-third and last [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]. He took the throne upon the death of his father [[Eärnil II]] in {{TA|2043}}, and after his disappearance, the [[Stewards of Gondor]] ruled in his name for many generations.

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==Life==

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==History==

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Eärnur was considered one of the greatest warriors and generals in the history Gondor. His greatest victory was in [[Third Age 1975|T.A. 1975]], when he drove the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] out of Angmar in the [[Battle of Fornost]]. After being crowned King in 2043 he was challenged twice by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], chief of the [[Ringwraiths]], who now resided in [[Minas Morgul]]. The first challenge went unanswered but in 2050 the second came and he accepted. After entering the gates of Minas Morgul, he was never heard from again.

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===Angmar===

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During the [[Angmar War]], what was left of the ancient realm of [[Arnor]] was under attack. While not ignoring the North-Kingdom, King [[Eärnil II]] had trouble of his own, and could not spare any of his troops to send North. Upon learning that the Witch-king was preparing for the final blow in {{TA|1973}}, he sent his son Eärnur north. Though his fleet sailed rapidly, he was not in time to save [[Arthedain]] or [[Arvedui]], its last king. His massive fleet - it filled [[Grey Havens|Mithlond]], [[Harlond (Lindon)|Harlond]] and [[Forlond]] - was hailed by the Men that had survived the last defeat, and the Elves also. To Gondor's standards, the expeditionary force was mediocre in size. It did, however, include cavalry from [[Rhovanion (Realm)|Rhovanion]], which would prove useful on the wide lands of the North.

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No new king was elected and the rule of Gondor passed to the Stewards, beginning with [[Mardil Voronwë]], who had tried to restrain Eärnur from going to Minas Morgul. The Stewards were to rule "until the King returns", because it was uncertain at first whether Eärnur had been killed or not. In addition, Eärnur left without an heir, and while many others in Gondor could lay some sort of claim to the kingship, those claims generally had some sort of doubt, and no one wanted to risk another civil war like the [[Kin-strife]], which had been devastating for Gondor.

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With [[Círdan]], Eärnur travelled East, and cleansed the lands of Orcs and other servants of Angmar. All fled before the might of the Gondorian cavalry, with Eärnur at its head. At the same time, [[Glorfindel]] came west from [[Rivendell]]. When finally the Witch-king, clad in black, came forth near [[Fornost Erain|Fornost]], many of the horses fled in terror. So did Eärnur's steed, and it took some time before the Captain of Gondor could regain control. The Witch-king laughed at this seeming retreat, but his victory would not last long. The Elves of Rivendell entered the battlefield, and the Witch-king fled before the [[Light of Valinor|might]] of [[Glorfindel]]. Fleeing in despair, Eärnur wanted to pursue him, but Glorfindel spoke against it:

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{{quote|Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall.|Glorfindel<ref name="AA">{{HM|AA}}, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"</ref>}}

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But nonetheless, Eärnur bore a grudge against the wraith that disgraced him.

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===Kingship===

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It was soon found out that the Witch-king escaped to [[Mordor]], and set up abode in Minas Ithil, which in consequence was renamed [[Minas Morgul]]. After the death of Eärnil and the coronation of Eärnur, the Witch-king challenged him to single combat, remembering him of the disgrace of the North. The [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], [[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]], persuaded him not to go.

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Seven years later, the Witch-king renewed his challenge, and this time, Eärnur could not be held back. Before leaving, however, Eärnur left his crown on the lap of his father in the [[Hallows|Houses of the Dead]].<ref name="AA"/> There it was picked up again by [[Faramir]], the last Ruling Steward, for the coronation of [[Aragorn|Elessar]] almost a millennium later.<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref> With a small escort of knights, he rode past the gates of Minas Morgul. None were ever seen again.

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No new king was elected and the rule of Gondor passed to the Stewards, beginning with Mardil Voronwë. The Stewards were to rule "until the King returns", because it was uncertain at first whether Eärnur had been killed or not. In addition, Eärnur left without a heir, and while many others in Gondor could lay some sort of claim to the kingship, those claims generally had some sort of doubt, and no one wanted to risk another civil war like the [[Kin-strife]].<ref>{{S|V}}</ref>

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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''Eärnur'' means "Servant of the [[Belegaer|Sea]]" in [[Quenya]], from ''[[ëar]]'' "sea" and ''-[[ndur]]'' "servant".

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''Eärnur'' is a shortened form of [[Eärendur (disambiguation)|Eärendur]]. It means "Servant of the [[Belegaer|Sea]]" in [[Quenya]], from ''[[Eär|ëar]]'' "sea" and ''[[-ndur]]'' "servant".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref>

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{{sequence

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|prev=[[Eärnil II]]

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|next=[[Aragorn II]], 971 years later

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|list=33rd [[King of Gondor]]<br><code>III</code> 2043 – 2050

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}}

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[[Category:Dúnedain]]

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==Genealogy==

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[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]

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Eärnur was a member of the "fifth line" of Kings of Gondor, which started with his father after the death [[Ondoher]] and his sons in {{TA|1944}}, and ended with himself a little over a century later.

:While explaining the origin of the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]] to [[Gimli]] (and by extension, the audience), [[Legolas]] refers to [[Isildur]] as the "Last King".<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'', "[[Dwimorberg - The Haunted Mountain]]"</ref> Whether Eärnur was omitted on purpose (so not to introduce another name) or simply overlooked is unknown.

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'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''

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:Eärnur appeared in the expansion pack, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch-king]]''. He came to Rivendell to aid the Elves and Men of Arnor.

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'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

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:Eärnur is a non-playable character. He was turned into a [[Wraiths|wraith]] by the Witch-king of Angmar and took up the name [[Mordirith]]. He is the Steward of Angmar.<ref>{{VGC|SAXIV}}, Chapter 15 "The Doom of the North" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=271j-zRuZ6Q cut scene] (youtube)</ref>

Contents

History

Angmar

During the Angmar War, what was left of the ancient realm of Arnor was under attack. While not ignoring the North-Kingdom, King Eärnil II had trouble of his own, and could not spare any of his troops to send North. Upon learning that the Witch-king was preparing for the final blow in T.A.1973, he sent his son Eärnur north. Though his fleet sailed rapidly, he was not in time to save Arthedain or Arvedui, its last king. His massive fleet - it filled Mithlond, Harlond and Forlond - was hailed by the Men that had survived the last defeat, and the Elves also. To Gondor's standards, the expeditionary force was mediocre in size. It did, however, include cavalry from Rhovanion, which would prove useful on the wide lands of the North.

With Círdan, Eärnur travelled East, and cleansed the lands of Orcs and other servants of Angmar. All fled before the might of the Gondorian cavalry, with Eärnur at its head. At the same time, Glorfindel came west from Rivendell. When finally the Witch-king, clad in black, came forth near Fornost, many of the horses fled in terror. So did Eärnur's steed, and it took some time before the Captain of Gondor could regain control. The Witch-king laughed at this seeming retreat, but his victory would not last long. The Elves of Rivendell entered the battlefield, and the Witch-king fled before the might of Glorfindel. Fleeing in despair, Eärnur wanted to pursue him, but Glorfindel spoke against it:

"Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall."

But nonetheless, Eärnur bore a grudge against the wraith that disgraced him.

Kingship

It was soon found out that the Witch-king escaped to Mordor, and set up abode in Minas Ithil, which in consequence was renamed Minas Morgul. After the death of Eärnil and the coronation of Eärnur, the Witch-king challenged him to single combat, remembering him of the disgrace of the North. The Steward, Mardil Voronwë, persuaded him not to go.

Seven years later, the Witch-king renewed his challenge, and this time, Eärnur could not be held back. Before leaving, however, Eärnur left his crown on the lap of his father in the Houses of the Dead.[1] There it was picked up again by Faramir, the last Ruling Steward, for the coronation of Elessar almost a millennium later.[2] With a small escort of knights, he rode past the gates of Minas Morgul. None were ever seen again.

No new king was elected and the rule of Gondor passed to the Stewards, beginning with Mardil Voronwë. The Stewards were to rule "until the King returns", because it was uncertain at first whether Eärnur had been killed or not. In addition, Eärnur left without a heir, and while many others in Gondor could lay some sort of claim to the kingship, those claims generally had some sort of doubt, and no one wanted to risk another civil war like the Kin-strife.[3]

Portrayal in Adaptations

While explaining the origin of the Dead Men to Gimli (and by extension, the audience), Legolas refers to Isildur as the "Last King".[5] Whether Eärnur was omitted on purpose (so not to introduce another name) or simply overlooked is unknown.